System for protecting electrical transmission-lines



'w. PETERSEN AND R. BUDENBERG. SYSTENI FOR PROTECTING ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. I21 I9'I4- RENEWED NOV. 24, I919.

'1 ,335,256. Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

4 SHEETS SHEET I.

W. PETERSEN AND R. RUDENBERG.

SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES.

ATION FILED NOV. I2, I9I4. RENEWED NOV.-24, I919.

APPLIC Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 6'

' W. PETERSEN AND H. RUDENBERG.

SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1914. RENEWED NOV. 24. 1919.

1,335,256. Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

3W" WWW Weak/e. au9' AQ/MMQL $1 w. PETERSEN AND R. RUDENBERG. SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1914. RENEWED NOV- 24, 1919. 1,335,256.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. 7

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALDEMAR PETERSEN, OF DARMSTADT, AND REINHOLD RI J 'DENBERG, OF BERLIN- WESTEND, GERM ANY, ASSIGNORS TO SIEMENS-SCHU'CKERTWERKE G. M. B. H.', OF BERLIN, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY.

- SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION -LIN ES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

Application filed November 12,1914, Serial No. 871,722. Renewed November 24, 1919. Serial No. 340.197.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WALDEMAR' PETER- SEN, a German citizen, and residing 'at Darmstadt, Germany, and REINHopD Rup- ENBERG, a German citizen, and residing in Berlin-Westend, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems for Protecting Electrical Trans mission-Lines, of which the following is a specification. I

Many troubles arising in central transmission lines are due to the efi'ect of waves traveling alongtheline, and which may be set up by any disturbance of the condition of equilibrium, such as for instance atmospheric discharges or a flash-over at the insulators or the like. Such disturbances are likely to be propagated in all directions over the entire installation.v While such traveling ways, which usually manifest themselves in a very sudden variation of the voltage and the current, ordinarily do little damage to the lines themselves, they are, when striking electrical machinery or transformers, in most cases the cause of serious trouble which. results in releasing of the automatic circuit breakers under phenomena' of short-circuit, .so that the machinery or apparatus or a. part of the same is usually put out-of service. v

Thus while the cause'of the disturbance is located at some point along the transmission line, its detrimental effects are produced at the vital portions of the installation, namely, at the machinery or transformers. Frequently .the damaged line is not cut ofi through'response of protective automatic switches until the 'damage at the machinery has occurred.

According to our invention we propose a method for protectin transmission lines which renders every a ected line portion inoperative when such disturbances occur without however permitting the disturbances to damage the machinery and transformers. Our novel arrangement prevents the disturbing waves, which may be generated in the transmission lines by any of the above named causes, from spreading from their point of issue over the entire installation, but permits them to only travel through a certain section of the transmission line vices.

when they are stopped and their energy is utilized for cutting off the part of the line in which the disturbance has occurred.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated how we propose to reduce our invention to practice. In these drawings:

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically an entire light or power installation.

Fig. 2 shows one form of sectional protecting device.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional protecting device using inductance and capacity.

Fig. 4; shows the combination of a wave absorbing and cut-out protective device.

Fig. 5 shows a protective device sensitive to small disturbances.

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the device shown in Fig. 4. I

Fig. .6 shows a combination of the devices shown in'Fig. 2 and 6 and a retardmg control. I

Fig. 7 shows a form of protective device responding to excesses of voltage and of current.

Fig. 8 shows a circuit diagram indicating 1n installations the location of the devices such'as shown in Fig. 7. K

Flgs. 9, 10, 11, and 12 show further modifications of rendering a protective device effective.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown dlagrammatically as an example an installatlon provided with'our new cut-out de- From a central station a a large transm1ss 10n line feeds into a ring circuit from which leads extend to a number of current consumers b. The ring circuit is divided into a suitable number of sections, ior instance 9-z n of which each may be separated from the others by end switches .9. Furthermore the sections are connected with each other over protective devices, for instance, choke coils Z for protecting against disturbing waves. If for instance in the section a, a disturbmg wave 1s caused to travel by a break-down of an lnsulator, this wave will propagate from-the point of issue in both directions, but on account of the inserted choke coils I Z it can not pass the ends of the sections but is here reflected or its energy absorbed.

.Now, as shown in Fig. 2, on each side of coil 1 a relay 1' is connected in circuit, for instance, by means of a small transformer 25. This relay responds in case of a dis-- tective device Z and bythus preventing it from passing over to the sound portions of the line to any appreciable extent, no other section switches aside from the two above mentioned will 'be aflected by the traveling wave.

In principle it is immaterial what kind of protective devices are used in order to prevent the passing of disturbing waves from one line section to another, except that such a device must be capable of quickly responding to disturbing waves and must not permit them topass; For instance, instead of using a self-induction l as shown in Fig. 2, also a condenser may be used for this purpose, which if of suflicient capacity will not permit quick variations-of voltage,

and therefore is able to serve as a point of reflection. Especially effective are combinations of self-induction and capacity, as shown for instance in Fig. 3. Here an example is shown how the transformers for actuating the releasing relay may be dispensed with and how the potentials occurring at the protective device may themselves be utilized directly to cut off the section.

Two inductances Z, Z are arranged in coils, one for each adjoining section end, and the inner ends of the inductances are grounded through a common condenser 0 of suitable capacity as mentioned above. A thin wire it is arranged in shunt to each inductance, which wire if its resistance be properly di mensioned transforms almost the entire energy of disturbance into heat. The elongation of this wire, caused by the heat, may then be used to actuate the circuit breakers. The details of cut-out construction of this character are omitted from the drawings as they do not form part of this invention. It is not absolutely necessary to employ on either side of the protective device, a switch for separating the line sections, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but frequently as shown in Fig. 3 a switch only on one side will be suflicient so that it may be operated by the disturbing waves arriving from either side.

\Vith the aid of Fig. 3 it has been eX- plained that it may be preferable to use the resistances h for the absorption of the energy of the disturbing waves, the resistance in this case serving simultaneously the pur poses of a relay. Both functions, of course, may also be separated, and the sections of the line may be cut from each other by a protective device which through proper combinationof self-induction, capacity and resistance absorbs all incoming disturbing waves, of sudden character, and a highly. sensitive relay may be employed besides for actuating the switches. Fig. 4 shows an arrangement of this kind .in which the circuitscarrying weak currents for operating the switches and the power circuits for absorbing energy of the electrical surges are separated from-each other. The latter circuits comprise a choke coil Z, a resistance 7', and a ground connection through a condenser c, connected as shown, the entire circuit being tuned to the line characteristics. The voltages generated at the choke coil Z during the impact of waves are employed for the generation of a spark at the gap 7",

which, however, is quenched by large resistances 1' This spark sets up high frequency oscillations in an oscillating circuit com prising the inductance Z and the capacities c 0 Thereby a vacuum tube 0:, located in the field of inductance Z is rendered electrically conductive and closes a circuit comprising a switch relay m and a battery B for actuating the relay.

In order to cause actuation of the circuit breakers already at relatively small disturbances whichmay for instance appear,

if the breakdown of an insulator is just about to occur, it may be preferable to cmploy an arrangement in which the disturbing waves produce electric oscillations in a circuit comprising self-induction and capacity. Fig. 5 shows an-arrangement of this kind in which the primary inductance coil of each of the transformers It forms an oscillating circuit together vwith the condenser 0 of the respective side of the device, in which circuit already weak disturbances produce oscillations or'surges.

In the relay circuit in which the secondary coil of the transformer t is located, an unsymmetrical spark gap f is included which may for instance consist of a point and a plate and which possesses the property of a rectifier, and therefore when acted upon by electrical oscillations imparted to the circuit by transformer It, will cause the direct current relay 'm to respond and thus serve for therelease of the switch (releasing device not shown here). Preferably the secondary transformer circuit is tuned to the natural period of the primary circuit.

Instead of a special transformer in all cases also the first windings of the prothe relay circuits the same as in Fig. 2 magnetically and inductively with the line circuit, or similarly as in Fig. 4, electrically,

and inductively by the oscillating circuit Z and the vacuum tube 42, as thereby the passing of the normally high voltage to therethe remaining main portion of the energy is entirely absorbed by the protective devices, or whether the waves are only reflected by them, so that by their forced travel back and forth along the disturbed section, their energy is gradually dissipated. In many cases it is possible to so construct the protective apparatus that some of its portions may serve simultaneously for actuating the relay which then results in a.particularly simple general arrangement of the construction.

In Fig. 6 we have shown another kind of protective device which may be provided for the sections n n a, of a line according to Fig. 1. If in one of the sections, for instance in an, a short-circuit occurs high frequency waves will travel from the point of short circuit in both directions of the line section, until they strike the switches s, and s,. V A suitable relay adapted to control the retarding action of its adjoining switch S (connection with relay not shown here) is operated by a portion of the wave energy similar to the manner described with reference to Fig. 4. In Fig. 6 the choke coil 03 is provided which is grounded near one of its ends through the condenser 0. Through the spark discharges at gap 7", due to the high potential generated at the ends of coil d oscillations are set up in the circuit f0 Z,-c -f, which render the vacuum tube 4) within coil Z conductive to close a local circuit including battery B and relay m so that the latter may operate. By the choke coil (Z and condenser c the remainder of the energy by reflection and gradual dissipation or by absorption is prevented from passing over to another section. The relay above referred to may be so designed that it diminishes the inherent retarding action of its switch S sothat the switch so affected cuts off the damaged line section long before the switches of the other sections, -to which some of the disturbing energy may have passed, are able to act and these other circuit breakers may thus remain closed.

Circuit breakers per 86 having variable retardation are well known in the art in many different forms, according to the particular purpose they are to serve. We have therefore refrained from showing in Fig. 6 the detailed construction of a particular type, but by the illustration in that figure we merely wish to indicate diagrammatically the general main functions of such a device in connection with its present purpose of diminishing the normal retardation of the cut-out element, when called for under the conditions outlined above wit reference to Figs. 2 and 6. In Fig. 6 the circuit breaker S is constructed to open the circuit only after having moved through a distance corresponding tothe length of its contact elements S S It is released by the occurrence of an excess current throughenergizing the release coil y in the battery relay circuit 1', B, as

described with reference to Fig. 2 and shown therein. The opening of the breaker S is ordinarily retarded by a pinion P gearing with the rack bar A of the circuit breaker, the pinion being controlled by a small counter-weight G tending to oppose its rotation in the opening directionof breaker S. The pinion is journaled at the end of a rod D pivoted at a fixed point F. A rod R pivotally connects thecenter of the pinion to the core of relay m. When this relay is energized as described with reference to Fig. 6, its core moves pinion P out of gear with rack bar A, thus freeing circuit breaker S from its drag and allowing it toppen the circuit without the normal retardation caused by weight G. Pinion P and rack bar A may be normally held in mesh, for instance through the action of a spring U fastened to rod R at one end and to a fixed point at the other end.

Waves which are partly due to excess voltage which may for instance be caused by weak atmospheric disturbances but which are not sufficient to cause a subsequent short-circuit will equally decrease the retardation of also the neighboring automatic switches, Since these, however, do not'carry in that case an unduly high current they will not be actuated in such cases, for instance at their respective release coils 3 In order that the increased sensitiveness of the switches for the excess of current which is caused by the voltage waves will not permanently remain and cause the switch to release in case of a perhaps entirely harmless short-circu'it due to excess current, preferably arrangements are made which restore the original retardation some time after the dying out of the waves due to excess voltage. This effect may be obtained by any means known in the art, for instance as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6 by the dash pot X connected to the core of relay m, in such fashion that it permits free movement of the quicker to an excess of current than (the.

otherbreakers not afiected by a relay, but that after some time those afl'ected are restored to their normal condition of acceleration.

' Another feature of our invention consists in employing a circuit closing device which is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The, device shown in Fig. 7 consists of a protective device for protecting electrical lines against excesses of current, such as is well known in ordinary practice and of a further protec-' tive device for excess of voltage, so that a system of protection is obtained which protects electrical lines against excess of 'volt age and. more particularly which reacts only to such excesses of voltage which are either caused by a disturbance consuming a considerable amount of energy or which excesses themselves may bring about such disturbances. The circuit a contains two cathode ray tubes 9 and h which are connected in series with the relay 1' controlling the release circuit (not completely shown). The relay 7' can respond only, if the tubes 9 and it simultaneously permit passage of current. An energy consuming disturbance due to excess of voltage in the line 'n will cause an increase of the current in its line. This increases the strength of the magnetic field in the tube g; this increase of field strength is now employed for increasing the virtual dark cathode space and will therefore ignite the tube 9. On the other hand the increase of current in 'the line a will produce an enlarged drop of voltage in the choke coils d, d which is suflicient for bridg ing the spark gap f. By the spark at gap f the oscillating circuit ;0 which is connected in parallel to said spark gap is excited, and effects the ignition of the vacuum tube h. By the simultaneous ignition of the tubes 9 andh circuit a is closed and the rela r in responding causes the closing'of rele se cir'cuit t. The particular features of the latter circuit-closing means, involving the cathode ray tube h andits function, form no part of our invention. This device is merely shown here as an example of auxiliary apparatus by which the purpose of our invention may be carried out.

A protective system constructed. according to Fig. 7 constitutes an effective limitation of the range of the disturbance caused by excesses of I voltage due to transient electrical phenomena in general. A section of the line which should be protected against excess of voltages must therefore be protected at both ends by such a device.

such reflecting devices it its voltage will increase. This rise in the In Fig. 8 w'e have shown the location of such protective elements k according to Fig. I

- 7 in a three-phase transmission line it for protecting substations against electrical surges which for instance may have their origin between each two substations for instance .at point ml The substations (not shown) may be connected at a to the mains n.

In Fig. 9 another modification of the protective device according to our invention is shown. This modification involves an electro-dyl'iamic principle for generating the high frequency oscillations for the ionization of a ,gas gap. A secondary electrical field which is generated by the sudden disappearance of magnetism produced by exterior means will immediately ionize a gas gap by which the relay circuit can be closed. In Fig. 9 the line it which is to be protected against the effect of traveling electric waves is led around a vacuum tube 9 which may be of any desired construction. A circuit a comprising the relay 0' and a current source 6 includes also the electrodes 00 of the tube 9. A wave propagated along the line will produce a magnetic disturbance in the portion of the space which is in the immediatevicinity of the loop 9 of the line, which disturbance causes within the loop g-that is in the interior of .the vacuum tube g-a rapid disappearance of the lines of force. This secondary electrical field 'ionizes the vacuum of the tube g, so that circuit a is closed thereby causing the relay 1- to respond and to actuate the release circuit t leading to the switching elements (not shown).

Further modified protective systems according to our present invention are shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. In these figures the release circuit t comprising the switching elements of the line a (not shown) is closed by the relay 1" in case the vacuum of the tube 9 is ionized, so that suflicient current can flow in the circuit a. The ionization is accomplished in a well known manner by means of an oscillating circuit p which is energized when the spark gap 7".

is broken down and an arc formed.

The excitation of this oscillating circuit p is thus indirectly effected by the traveling wave. In the line it therefore line ele-- ments are insertedwhich are able to reflect the traveling wave. When a wave meets is reflected and voltage is made use of for breaking down gap f and for exciting the oscillating circuit effecting the ignition of the tube. In Fig. 10 more particularly we have shown a choke coil 03 as reflecting element in the line. In case of a disturbance the series gap f is broken down by which the oscillating circuit is excited. This gap is shunt to the reflecting device d, which may again be a choke coil.

Instead of using a self-induction d asreflecting element of course also other suitable elements havin reflecting properties may be employed. hus in Fig. 12 a condenser 0 is shown as a reflecting element, one plate of which may be grounded over an energy consuming device w, for instance .a resistance.

We claim:

1. A protective system for an electrical transmission line comprising a plurality of switchessubdividing said line into sections, a device responsive to disturbing electric waves inserted at the end of each section, said device being able to impede electrical waves occurring in its line section, and a releasing apparatus operated from said devices, adapted to actuate said switches so as to separate from the line the section in which the disturbance has occurred.

2. A system of protecting electrical transmission lines, comprising a plurality of switches subdividing said line into' sections, choke coils inserted into said line sections and condensers connected in parallel therewith, and a releasing apparatus controlled from said choke coils and said condensers adapted to actuate said switches to disconnect a section from said line, in which an electrical disturbance has taken place.

3. A system for protecting an electrical transmission line from electrical wave disturbances, comprising a plurality of switches subdividing said line into sections, choke coils inserted into said line sections and condensers connected in parallel therewith, resistances adapted to absorb the energy of said disturbance, and a relaying apparatus controlled by said choke coils and said condensers adapted to operate said switches to disconnect the section of said line in which a disturbance has occurred.

4. A'system for protecting an electrical transmission line from electrical wave disturbances, comprisinga plurality of switches subdividing said line into sections, choke coils inserted into said line sections and condensers connected in parallel therewith, resistances connected to absorb the energy of said disturbance, and a relaying apparatus controlled by said choke coils and said 0011- said line.

densers and adapted to actuate said switches to disconnect the section of said line affected by a disturbance, said'relaying apparatus comprising circuits which are induc-' tively coupled with said line section.

5. In a system for protecting electrical transmission lines the combination of switches for disconnecting a section of said line, said switches being provided with retarding means controlled by a device inserted into said line and responsive to rapid electrical disturbing waves.

6. In a protective system for electrical transmission lines the combination 1 of switches associated with retarding means for disconnecting a section of said line, and devices responsive to rapid electrical disturbing waves occurring therein, said retarding means being controlled by said devices, so as to shorten the time of actuation of said switches in case of electrical disturbances in 7. In a system for protecting electrical transmission lines the combination of switches for disconnecting a section of said line, said switches being provided with retarding means controlled by a device responsive to rapid electrical disturbing waves, said device being inserted into said line, and protective devices inserted between the several sections of said line for preventing the propagation of rapid disturbing waves from said section.

8. In a protective system for electrical transmission lines the combination of switches associated with retarding means for disconnecting a section of said line, and devices responsive to rapid electrical disturbing waves occurring therein, said retarding means being controlled by said de- 

